Best five wins from the best contenders

He was the Jimmy Young, Mike Hunter, perhaps the Tommy Jackson of his time, strange(southpaw?) awkward fighter, a bit light but tough, he let his condition slip early enough and a few dubious fights. Good spot, very underrated or more correctly not rated at all.

 

Jimmy Ellis

1- Jerry Quarry
2- Oscar Bonavena
3- Floyd Patterson
4- Leotis Martin
5- George Chuvalo

 

Ernie Schaaf and Tami Mauriello both need to be on this list. Outstanding contenders with a fair bit of depth.

 

Jimmy Ellis

1----Floyd Patterson
2----Oscar Bonavena
3----Jerry Quarry
4----Leotis Martin
5----George Chuvalo

Ellis does not have that deep of a resume compared to some others, but I think his top five is very impressive as it has a champion who still had something left, plus three contenders at their peaks. I think more impressive top five than Terrell.

Buster Mathis

1----George Chuvalo
2----Bob Stallings
3----Amos Lincoln
4----Jim Beattie
5----Chuck Wepner

The weakest so far. I put Stallings 2nd because he posted wins over Earnie Shavers and Mac Foster. Lincoln was on an 8 losses in 9 fights end of career collapse with 7 KO'd by, but Mathis only got a SD. The last two were just fill in the spaces. What Mathis does have on his side is not losing to any but top men--Frazier, Quarry, Ali, and Lyle. But his positive resume is blah.

 

I agree with getting rid of Wilder as he is active. LaStarza, though, certainly does not have one of the better resumes, but was a top contender. I think LaStarza and Firpo would be a good double to look at. So would Ruhlin and Denver Ed Martin to compare and contrast.

My thought here is based on getting into which contenders had really good resumes, and which had thin ones.

 

Roland LaStarza and Luis Angel Firpo as a double to compare and contrast

Gus Ruhlin and Denver Ed Martin as a double to compare and contrast

Tommy Loughran, Johnny Risko, Joe Baksi, Larry Gains, Tommy Farr

Bob Cleroux doubled with George Chuvalo

Peter Maher (recommended by Matt)

Loughran I think is a must as he might well have the best resume of any non-heavyweight champion. Or at least will be in the hunt. So will Risko, I think.

I like your additions. Satterfield, Schaaf, and Savold all have strong resumes.

*Addition--I see Tommy Loughran is on the list. My old eyes failed me I guess. Risko is still someone I think we should scrutinize.

 

I'll hit this later today. I must admit to cheating a bit and having a look see at Ellis and Buster yesterday. Ellis was a no-brainer off the top of my head, but Buster's - mother of god - this is going to be some stretch.

 

Ellis, easiest top 5, has to be any permutation you fancy of;
1-Patterson
2-Quarry
3-Bonavena
4-Martin
5-Chuvalo
His top 4 wins all came in a row, anybody else match that? The Middleton draw was another good, past prime effort.
Mathis, what's to say;
1-Chuvalo
2-Stallings
3-McBride
4-Wepner
5-Marsh

 

OK, here we go

Jimmy Ellis

1) Jerry Quarry
2) Floyd Patterson
3) Oscar Bonavena
4) George Chuvalo
5) Leotis Martin

Outstanding top 5.

Buster Mathis

1) George Chuvalo
2) Big Train Lincoln
3) James J. Woody
4) Jim Beattie
5) Bob Stallings

Oh, man, after #1, it was one rough go.